Problems mount for Windies

GEORGETOWN: The West Indies new-look cricket team will have only one training session together before the First Test against Australia after an apparent mix-up over travel arrangements sent a group of players flying around the Caribbean on a detour.

West Indian officials were at a loss yesterday to explain why four players were sent backtracking to Jamaica after playing the final of the Carib Beer International Challenge final in Barbados on Sunday instead of making the short hop direct to Guyana. Jamaica is roughly three hours’ flying time west of Barbados while Guyana is just over one hour directly to the south. The result was that late on Tuesday night only seven of the players arrived in Georgetown where the First Test gets under way at Bourda today.

The incident was the latest blow to the West Indies’ preparations following the decision of former captain Carl Hooper to pull out of the team and the confusion over whether Jamaican opener Chris Gayle was eligible to play. “Seven players arrived last night, four Jamaicans, two Barbadians and one Antiguan,” said team manager Ricky Skerritt, adding that travel arrangments had been made in conjunction with the Jamaica and Barbados cricket boards. But he added: “We are happy to have the squad here today and they are out there now working very hard and getting ready for the match.” West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) chief executive Roger Brathwaite said he would look into the incident.

The problem came a day after Hooper, who was sacked as captain following first round elimination at the World Cup in South Africa, pulled out of the squad, saying he did not want to stand in the way of younger talent. Jamaica’s Gayle was overlooked after not making himself available for the domestic final against Barbados, but the rules have been questioned with some commentators claiming that Gayle could have played and he may be back for the Second Test. Captain Brian Lara admitted that the Hooper pull-out was a blow on both the batting and bowling fronts. “We were depending on Carl Hooper to do a lot of bowling (as well), he’s always been a good off-spinner,” Lara said. Referring to Gayle, he said: “We have got our best 14 players here for the Test match. I don’t think it was a premature decision by the selectors. “Hopefully, Chris will be in the team for the Second Test.”